Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 19 NO 32 SEP 9 - 15, 2009

GENERAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS EU Foreign Ministers COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS Addressed Prospect of -Brazil Visa Freedom 14 September - At the meeting of foreign ministers on Monday night, the topic of discussion was issues related to the reciprocal visa freedom agreement between the European Union and Brazil. The foreign ministers also discussed preparations for the European Council and matters connected to ensuring energy supplies. Foreign Minister Paet stated that the negotiations over the visa freedom agreement have already lasted five years, but the fact remains that the citizens of four member states—Estonia, Latvia, Malta and Cyprus—still need a visa to enter Brazil. “We hope that the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet with Foreign Minister of Sweden, the parties involved can find a current EU presidency, Carl Bildt, 14 September. compromise on the text of the Council of the European Union agreement and that the visa freedom Paet: Time to Strengthen Ties Between European Union agreement will be ready by the and Southern Caucasus European Union-Brazil summit taking place on 6 October,” Paet stated. 15 September - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the Paet said that Brazilian citizens can European Union external relations council in Brussels. The enter all European Union member European Union’s partnership with countries of the Southern Caucasus states without a visa. “This is why we and the situation in Afghanistan were discussed. hope for clear decisions on visa The European Union foreign ministers discussed the development of freedom from the next European further co-operation between the EU and the Southern Caucasus Union-Brazil summit,” Paet stated. countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Foreign Minister Urmas The European Union foreign Paet stated that the partnership and co-operation agreement signed ten ministers also discussed how to years ago is expiring, so now is an appropriate time to update the ensure energy supplies, including the agreement base between the European Union and the Southern issue of connecting energy Caucasus countries. “In order for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to infrastructure and energy supply have tighter economic relations with the European Union, it is necessary systems among the member states. to begin negotiations for a new framework agreement,” said Foreign They also discussed the progress of a Minister Urmas Paet. “European Union Eastern Partnership, which began mechanism to deal with crises. For this year in May within the framework of the Neighbourhood Policy, also ensuring European security, Foreign calls for a new association agreement with our partners in the Southern Minister Paet stated that Estonia Caucasus,” said Paet. Estonian Foreign Minister Paet expressed hope supports the diversification of that the European Commission would begin negotiations very soon. suppliers as well as establishing “However, the success of the process will be determined first and supplementary energy connections foremost by the political will and preparedness of the Southern Caucasus among member states and the countries, as well the progress they have made in fulfilling their creation of a common energy responsibilities,” Paet noted. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that we market. “An essential step in must also work to facilitate relations between people and the movement developing the Nordic-Baltic energy of people, and also to discuss matters related to simplifying visa policy. market is the approval of energy The EU foreign policy leaders agreed that during the past few years, the connections between the Baltic Sea European Union and the Southern Caucasus as close neighbours have region states,” said Foreign Minister come to rely on each other more in matters of mutual security and Paet. energy as well as economic matters. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2

Southern Caucasus of Georgia. At the meeting, Prime Minister Ansip stated that Estonia and Georgia are good partners in (continued from page 1) several international organisations and the relations Foreign Minister Paet stated that there are three between the countries are good. basic principles of further co-operation between the At the meeting, economic co-operation was the European Union and the Southern Caucasus, which main subject, but political issues were also are involvement, an individual approach, and discussed. “Estonia respects the territorial integrity conditionality. and sovereignty of Georgia,” Prime Minister Ansip In talking about Afghanistan, the foreign declared. ministers agreed that first of all it is necessary to The prime minister of Georgia thanked the people wait for the official confirmed election results and of Estonia for the support given to Georgia, after that to proceed with a more profound analysis especially during difficult times. According to him, of the situation. The foreign policy leaders talked Georgia has conducted many reforms where the about the new European Union strategy for lessons learned from Estonia have been put into Afghanistan and Pakistan that is being compiled, practice. which will hopefully be approved at the next foreign The prime ministers also opened a business ministers’ council. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet seminar with entrepreneurs from both Estonia and believes that the better co-ordination and Georgia today. Ansip stressed that regardless of the harmonisation of the activities of the European liberal business climate and good business Commission and the member states, as well as the conditions of Georgia, economic relations between co-ordinated co-operation of NATO and the the two countries are not very extensive; Georgia is European Union, are of key importance. in 86th place in the ranking of trading volume. “This “In order for the actions of the European Union in means that both Estonian entrepreneurs and Afghanistan to be more effective than before, it is Georgian businesses have great potential for necessary for the new action plan to be as concrete successful business,” Ansip said. “Above all, I see as possible, containing a detailed list of what needs great opportunities in the field of IT and to be in each sector and how it will be achieved,” telecommunication and in the exporting of emphasised Paet. technology to Georgia, but there are co-operation

opportunities in other fields as well; in agriculture, Brazil for example,” he added. (continued from page 1) “Estlink2 and NordBalt are of key importance to the Nordic-Baltic energy market,” noted Paet. The Estonian foreign minister expressed hope that the co-financing of energy projects set out by the European Economic Recovery Plan will happen smoothly. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet believes that the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of this year and its effect on energy supplies showed how important it is to ensure strong mechanisms for tracking the functioning of the an energy market and reacting to a crisis. “Reaching an agreement to fill the gas depositories and reform the gas sector in Ukraine is one positive step in this sector,” asserted Foreign Minister Paet. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip with Georgian The European Union presidency Sweden Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, 14 September. presented the topics of the European Council to take place from 29-30 October. According to Estonian Estonia Helps Create Supplementary Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, important topics that Training System for Afghan Doctors must be addressed at the Council are institutional matters related to the Treaty of Lisbon and 12 September - The Foreign Ministry is discussions of climate change, so that the European supporting MTÜ Mondo in creating a Union can achieve a common position prior to the supplementary training system for doctors in Copenhagen climate conference. “In talking about Helmand Province. regional co-operation in the European Union, the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that approval and quick implementation of the Strategy developing the health care sector in Afghanistan is a for the Baltic Sea Region is noteworthy,” said very important goal of Estonian development co- Foreign Minister Paet. The economic and financial operation. “In Helmand Province, which has a situation is also on the agenda for the Council. population comparable to that of Estonia, there are only slightly more than 1300 people in the health care sector and fewer than 100 of them are FOREIGN NEWS doctors,” noted Foreign Minister Paet. “Increasing the accessibility of medical care through continuing Prime Minister Ansip Affirms Estonian education will allow for Afghans’ quality of life to get Support for Territorial Integrity of better, step by step,” he added. Georgia The health care workers of Helmand Province lack the opportunity to acquire further medical 14 September - Today Prime Minister Andrus education. According to the Estonian health care Ansip met with Nika Gilauri, the Prime Minister expert in Afghanistan Anu Raisma, the goal of the recognised Estonia’s important and visible military project is to increase the capabilities of health care and civil contribution in stabilising the situation in workers by offering them opportunities for further Afghanistan. Paet said that Estonia contributes to education and training. “At the moment, the most difficult area of Afghanistan—Helmand opportunities for medical workers in Helmand Province—along with British, American and Danish Province to receive any supplementary training after forces. “Estonia has suffered losses in this mission, completing the appropriate school are extremely and therefore one of our most important principles is limited,” stated Raisma. “With this project we hope that we do not want an incorrect or imprecise to implement supplementary training for medical strategy to cause the death of a single soldier or workers, participate in the creation of a training civilian,” stressed Paet. centre, and support a school for nurses and midwives,” she added. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Opened Within the framework of the project, MTÜ Mondo Honorary Consulate in Odense, Denmark will help to work out the concept for a Helmand Province health care worker training centre. MTÜ 15 September - Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Mondo will also help to furnish the centre and Marten Kokk opened the Estonian Honorary provide it with the necessary teaching materials. Consulate in Odense in the Kingdom of In order to learn about the working order of Denmark. The Estonian honorary consul in Estonian health care facilities and the structure of Odense is Bo Stærmose. the training system for health care workers, two Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Marten Kokk th health care workers responsible for Helmand stated that this is Estonia’s 110 honorary consulate Province in Afghanistan will come to Estonia for a and that the constant expansion of the network of two-week training visit in November. During the Estonian honorary consuls is very positive. course of the training visit, the health care workers “Honorary consuls play an important role in the from Helmand Province will be given an overview of promotion of political, economic, cultural, the administrative model, work order, and the educational, and other relations. They also help nature of infection control used in hospitals of Estonian citizens by providing consular aid and various sizes, as well as the possible forms of services,” Kokk noted. There are currently six supplementary education for health care workers. Estonian honorary consuls in Denmark. The two-year project will be supported by Undersecretary Kokk expressed hope that the 1 099 980 kroons from the Foreign Ministry’s opening of a new honorary consulate would help to development and humanitarian aid budget. strengthen ties between Estonia and Denmark even more. “Estonia’s new honorary consul would like Foreign Minister Paet Met with NATO help intensify economic and business contacts between Estonia and Denmark and make Danish Secretary General Anders Fogh entrepreneurs more aware of opportunities to Rasmussen establish business contacts with Estonian 15 September - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet businesses,” said Kokk. met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh The consular area of the new Estonian honorary Rasmussen at the headquarters of the NATO consul covers the communes of Odense, Bogense, alliance in Brussels today. Kerteminde, Middelfart, Assens, Nyborg, Faaborg- At the meeting, Foreign Minister Paet and Midfyn, Svendborg, Langeland, and Ærø. The Secretary General Rasmussen focused primarily on honorary consulate is located at Sivlandvænget 29 NATO’s new strategic concept, the upcoming NATO DK-5260 Odense S Denmark. The honorary foreign ministers’ meeting in , and the consulate can be reached by phone at +45 66 11 18 situation in Afghanistan. They agreed that the 11, by fax at +45 66 11 18 82, or by email at strategic concept must answer to the problems of [email protected]. today, and it must address new risks and challenges Bo Stærmose was born in Odense in 1948. In in addition to those that are left over from the 20th 1974 Stærmose graduated from the legal science century. Rasmussen and Paet said that NATO’s new department of Aarhus University. In 1974 he joined strategic concept will also be an essential topic at his family business Juliana A/S as an acting director. the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting taking place in The business deals with the production of Tallinn from 22-23 April next year. greenhouses and greenhouse supplies. He has been Collective defence is the basis for NATO’s work, the owner of the company since 1982. Stærmose’s which is why the backbone of the new strategic business exports greenhouses to almost 30 nations, concept must be NATO’s visibility, trustworthiness, and the business has representatives in Estonia as and the clear expression of its abilities. “Article 5 of well. In addition to his business, Stærmose also the Washington agreement, which is the basis for belongs to the boards of many important Danish NATO’s activities, must be reliable,” emphasised organisations; he is also the vice-chairman of the Foreign Minister Paet. For Estonia it is essential to Confederation of Danish Industry. The honorary ensure the synergy between collective defence and consul speaks Danish, English and German. the missions occurring away from the territories of NATO member states. “Both are important and require the contributions of all allies,” noted Paet. DOMESTIC NEWS He added that it is positive that the working group Estonian Life Expectancy Increasing preparing the strategic concept includes a representative of the Baltic states. Paet and 15 September - The average life expectancy in Rasmussen also agreed that co-operation with Estonia this year is 74 years, the highest level partners of the alliance, including Russia, is in the past 50 years. important. The average lifespan for women was a record In addition, Paet and Rasmussen talked about 79.23 years last year, while for men it was 68.59 the latest developments in Afghanistan. Rasmussen

3 years, according to data published on the webpage The mine-hunter Sakala is the first ship in the of Statistics Estonia. to cross the Atlantic Ocean. To date, A year earlier the average expected lifespan in of the vessels in the Estonian national fleet only the Estonia was slightly over 73 years. For women the border guard ship Valvas, in 1997, has crossed the number was 78.73 years and for men 67.13. Atlantic Ocean one-way since World War II. Life expectancy was lowest in 1994, when the The NATO Response Force, NRF, was created in number fell to 66.46 years. Average expected 2003 as a unit uniting integrated sea, land and air lifespan for men that year was 60.52 years and for forces in order to perform tasks for the North women 72.76 years. Atlantic Council. The NATO Response Force unites In 1989 the average expected lifespan in Estonia elite units that may be sent within five days to was 70.31 years. For women the average was 74.68 various locations worldwide to carry out military and for men 65.55. tasks. It may be used both in a collective defence Life expectancy is the average number of years operation carried out based on the North Atlantic people are expected to live. Treaty and in military operations organised for the purposes of preserving or restoring peace on the basis provided in Chapters VI and VII of the Charter DEFENCE NEWS of the United Nations. Previously, the Navy flagship Admiral Pitka, Aaviksoo: Estonia is Now Even More of a mine-hunters Admiral Cowan and Sulev, as well as Maritime Nation explosive ordnance disposal units and military police 11 September - On Wednesday, at the Estonian units have served in the NRF. House in New York City, a festive reception was given in honour of the crew of the Estonian Navy’s mine-hunter Sakala, in from its first transatlantic crossing, and for the émigré Estonian community. Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo's address was read aloud at the reception. Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo pointed out in his address that following the transatlantic crossing Estonia was now even more of a maritime nation, for our marines once more include seamen with experience on the ocean. “It is in the national interests of Estonia for the NATO Response Force to develop credibly and for our readiness to be noticed by both our friends and our enemies. And could there be better proof of The Estonian mine-hunter Sakala on its stop in credibility than an oceanic crossing? For it also New York, 9 September. matters to us that in an emergency our allies’ ships could make their way speedily across the ocean, the Collective Cyber Defence Depends on way they have done for Europeans repeatedly before,” the address of the minister of defence Preparation stated. 9 September (BNS) - Creating an effective According to Aaviksoo, the presence of an response capability against cyber attacks Estonian naval vessel in the waters of the United requires a major co-operative effort both States is also of important significance to Estonians within and between countries, Estonian in America, who kept the spirit of Estonia alive the President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said in his entire time their compatriots had to submit to the speech at the Cyber Conflict Legal and Policy repressive dictate of the occupying authorities in Conference in Tallinn on Wednesday. their homeland. “The fact that you are advancing The president said that changes in technology or our cause on the American continent and, if needed, the sudden application of new technology are are able to make such an important contribution to making the protective mechanisms we are used to the defence and survival of the Estonian state is obsolete. important knowledge that acts as a support for The DDOD attacks against Estonia in May 2007, those in Estonia who must consider these same although not technically very complex, were of great things," the minister of defence wrote. significance for several of reasons, Ilves said, as At the soiree held at the Estonian House in New they were intended to create social unrest in York City, the address of Minister of Defence response to the domestic policies of a democratically Aaviksoo was read out loud by Colonel Meelis Kiili, elected government and so represented an Estonia’s defence attaché in the USA. intervention against a democratic system, but using The mine-hunter Sakala, in the 13th rotation of hitherto unused methods as a continuation of policy the NATO Response Force, crossed the Atlantic by other means. Ocean together with the NATO mine "Evidence exists to suggest that the attacks may countermeasures squadron in the second half of have been partially state-sponsored," he said. August. During its crossing, the Sakala practiced "The recent US report of the Cyber Consequences refuelling and providing assistance at sea. The Unit examining the cyber campaign against Georgia Sakala will participate in mine countermeasures suggests that the organisers of DDOS attacks exercises in Canadian waters and in the biggest against websites in that country had advance notice naval exercise of the year in the United States, of Russian military intentions. In a word they were where it will practice collaborating as part of an apparently co-ordinated with a country's military aircraft carrier task force. and so constitute a possible infringement upon

4 national sovereignty and, more alarmingly, may well restless province of Helmand in southern illustrate a new stage in the development of cyber Afghanistan. warfare. A public-private partnership, if you will," Laaneots observed the Loyal Jewel exercise of said Ilves. the Danish Division that is part of the training "We have seen evidence that from a technical program of the NATO Response Force. standpoint, cyber attacks are growing more Together with Danish and Lithuanian units, the complex, moving beyond the relatively Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade has been linked to the unsophisticated DDOS type. There are alarming Danish Division. The link includes training so as to signs that their use by state and non-state entities is ensure full interoperability of the staff and units and growing, not diminishing," the president said. their ability to carry out joint operations. He said that on the national level substantially Cool Lion 2009, the computer simulation exercise better co-ordination between and within different held in Estonia last week, was the first joint exercise departments was necessary. of the Estonian brigade and the Danish Division after "The key to any adequate strategy, however, the linkup. rests in actions at the international level. After all, The Danish Division is the largest unit of the cyber attacks, cyber crime, and cyber terrorism are country's ground forces and one of the four divisions almost a priori cross-border issues. Those of NATO's Northeastern Corps. The staff of the responsible for malicious cyber-acts need Danish Division will make up the command element jurisdictional lines to hide behind," he said. of the NATO response force NRF-14 next year, of "The willingness of a country to be bound by the which the joint Baltic infantry battalion will be part. European Convention on Cybercrime almost serves On Friday Laaneots visited the Skrydstrup air as a litmus test for a country's preparedness to co- base, where fighter jets of the Danish Air Force operate in this field. In this light, it is extremely policing the Estonian airspace are stationed. regrettable that Russia has chosen not to be a party Denmark confirmed its readiness to continue to the convention," said Ilves. guarding the Baltic skies. Speaking of NATO, Ilves stressed that Article 5 Laaneots returned to Tallinn on Friday night. provides the ultimate mechanism of international protection in case of an armed attack against NATO Baltic Air Policing Training Events nations. Increasing in Scale Recent cyber incidents have, at least in the opinion of decision-makers, not reached the 15 September - While visiting F-15 fighter threshold of an armed attack, but are still a great aircraft at the Tallinn Airport yesterday, concern to the international community. Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of In questions related to international peace and Defence Riho Terras said that the air policing friendly relations in the cyber domain, the training events of the Baltic States were implementation of Article 5 is tightly related to how increasing in scale and complexity every time. nations will perform on Article 4 -- preparedness. The permanent undersecretary of the Ministry That is, general co-operation on combating cyber examined the F-15 Strike Eagle fighters from the crime and exchanging information about threats and United States, which had taken off from Great defence. Britain, and met with their pilots, who before Collective defence will reside on individual yesterday conducted a co-operation exercise in defence. Individual defences need to be co- West-Viru County with the next Estonian infantry ordinated and concerted to avoid legal grey areas company headed for Afghanistan. that allow evil-doers, as in the case of so-called According to Terras, yet another air policing "patriotic hackers" or outright espionage, to escape training event is confirmation that NATO’s territory legal accountability, he said. is one whole and its defence the joint task of the And once a cyber conflict actually crosses the allies. “Regular air policing training events like this, Article 5 threshold, the legal and policy mechanisms and the knowledge that NATO has decided that the created in peacetime and used to foster Article 4 co- air policing mission in the Baltic States would remain operation will be the key basis for co-ordinated operational through at least 2014, significantly response, said Ilves. increase security in the NATO air space as a whole,” Terras said. Chief of According to Terras, the events, including successive new training elements, also signal the Discusses Co-operation in Denmark constantly growing capability of the Estonian Air 12 September (BNS) - Estonian Defence Forces Force and its improving co-operation with allied Commander Lt. Gen. Ants Laaneots, who paid forces. “The Forward Air Controllers, who practiced an official visit to Denmark at the invitation of with US fighters in West-Viru County today, will his Danish colleague Adm. Tim Sloth increase the security and safety of our Afghanistan Jorgensen, mapped out future co-operation of contingent. Also, the roll-out of this capability will be the countries' armed forces at a meeting with important for strengthening Estonia’s primary Admiral Jorgensen. independent defence capability,” Terras affirmed. Topics under discussion were the new strategic On Monday and Tuesday, F-15E fighters from the concept of NATO, military operations necessary for United States Air Force will conduct, as part of the complying with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, 4th Air Policing Training Event in Baltic air space, a the protection of the Baltic airspace, development of co-operation exercise over Estonia with the next the Baltic Defence College, the situation in South company of the headed for Afghanistan, and future co-operation between the Afghanistan and the Forward Air Controllers of the Estonian and the Danish defence Forces, the General . Staff said. In the course of the exercise, the Forward Air Denmark is one of the NATO countries whose Controllers will practice, for the first time in co- troops are participating in combat operations in the operation with the NATO fighters, the co-ordination

5 of fire support during a infantry operations. The co- preparing to return to their home base Tuesday operation exercise with the fighters will be evening. conducted as part of the BAM-7 exercise of the The task of a close air support forward air Scouts Battalion in West-Viru County. The exercise controller is to visually identify a target, call aircraft will be part of the training for a new capability of the with fire support capabilities and guide the operation Air Force, the Forward Air Controllers. of the aircraft. The second part of the 4th Air Policing Training Event ESTCOY-9, the Estonian infantry company to be in Baltic air space will be conducted next week, with next sent to Afghanistan, is holding an exercise in a focus on the development of air surveillance and the conducting of patrols, setting up of checkpoints air defence capabilities. and the operation of checkpoints, acting in Baltic air policing training events have been dangerous areas and in the event of the detection of conducted since October 2008. The last defence an improvised explosive device. exercise in Baltic air space was conducted in July The BAM-7 exercise started on Monday and lasts 2009. In the course of the exercise, NATO air force until September 24. units practiced the delivery of international aid The second phase of the Baltic Region Training packages to an unknown region and the securing of Event IV (BRTE IV) will be conducted in Lithuania's air space control under the conditions of electronic air space on 22 September, focusing on the countermeasures. development of air surveillance and air defence capabilities.

Open Spirit Operation in Estonian Waters Turns Up Almost 100 Explosive Devices 11 September (BNS) - This year's largest mine hunting operation in the Baltic Sea, Open Spirit 2009, turned up nearly 100 explosive devices. By Friday morning the participating units had found 90 explosive devices, including 85 naval mines, of which 60 have been rendered harmless by now. Several of the devices are located in places where they cannot be detonated, such as in the vicinity of underwater cables. Open Spirit ends on Friday. Permanent Undersecretary Riho Terras visiting The Defence Forces headquarters confirmed that participants in the Baltic air policing training participants in the operation strictly observed event, 15 September. environmental and safety regulations when detonating explosive devices and explosions have Exercise in Close Air Support Fire Control been agreed with the Environmental Inspectorate, Ends in Estonia Maritime Administration and the border service. The rarest of the finds is probably a Russian 15 September (BNS) - In a training event this naval mine dating from 1877 which the German week, Estonian forward air controllers to be mine-hunter Passau found in an area to the north of deployed in Afghanistan soon for the first time Naissaar Island on Sunday. A few days earlier the conducted an exercise in the control of same vessel had located a rare old mine with a airborne fire for the support of a tactical wooden outer shell. operation of land forces. The main operating areas of Open Spirit 2009 The exercise was held in co-operation between were situated to the northeast of Hiiumaa Island and the Scouts Battalion and NATO fighter jets flying out around the island of Naissaar off Tallinn. Participants from RAF Lakenheath. include 16 vessels from Estonia, Germany, the "Training of the first close air support forward air United States, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, controllers for the Estonian air force has reached its Lithuania, Poland and France. For the first time a final stage, and we are preparing to send them to joint US, German and Estonian mine divers task Afghanistan together with an infantry company in group is taking part. the near future," Estonian Air Force Chief of Staff The Baltic Sea and in particular the Gulf of Maj. Jaak Tarien was quoted by military Finland is considered one of the most mine-infested spokespeople as saying on Tuesday. sea areas in the world. According to varying The chief of staff added that close air support estimates, around 80 000 naval mines were laid in was a very efficient and widely used means of fire the Baltic Sea during the two world wars. Almost support in Afghanistan because of the large size of 600 explosive devices have been found in Estonian the operation area there. waters in mine countermeasures operations since The British instructors observing the exercise said 1994. that information exchange between the commander of the infantry company, Capt. Sergei Guselnikov, close air support controller 2nd Lt. Ivo Koiv and pilots of the US F-15E jets that took part in the ECONOMIC NEWS exercise went well. Hydro, Wind Energy Production Rise in The F-15E Strike Eagle jets took off from the Estonia in 2008 Lakenheath air base in the UK on Monday morning, 11 September (BNS) - Estonian enterprises supported the BAM-7 exercise of the Scouts produced 1.5 times more wind power and one- Battalion, landed at Tallinn airport and were third more hydro power in 2008 than in the year before, Statistics Estonia said on Friday.

6 Estonian enterprises produced 133 gigawatt- postponed the implementation of its long-term hours (GWh) of wind power and 28 GWh of hydro investment programs. power during 2008. A remarkable rise in the Last year Silmet had an average of 527 generation of wind power took place in 2005, when employees, over the year the average number of the volume increased sevenfold compared with the employees contracted by 22. preceding year. After that the production of wind Silmet's mother company is the Swiss-registered energy has been increasing too, but not so fast. Zimal S.A. The increase in the production of hydro power was more stable and slower during the 2005-2008 period. Even though the share of renewable energy CULTURAL NEWS in overall electricity production is relatively small, it Arvo Pärt to Receive Honorary Doctorate has grown from year to year and accounted for 1.5% of total output in 2008. In 2007 the respective from University of Liège ratio had been 0.9%. 15 September - The Royal University of Liège in Electricity production from renewable sources has Belgium will present Arvo Pärt with an been increasing in Estonia since 1995, Statistics honorary doctorate on Thursday, 17 Estonia said. September. Power plants in Estonia continued the Six other musicians and composers will also be environmentally cleaner combined heat and power earning the title: Dick Annegarn, Anthony Braxton, (CHP) generation. In 2008, there were 17 CHP Henri Pousseur (posthumously), Frederic Rzewski, plants in Estonia that gave about 9% of total Archie Shepp and Robert Wyatt. electricity output and 30% of thermal energy. The honorary degrees will be presented during Compared to 2007, electricity production through the opening ceremony of the academic year, and CHP generation increased about 5%. Arvo Pärt confirmed to Klassikaraadio that he will be The economic decline reduced the domestic participating in the event. consumption of energy by about 4% in 2008 Previously Pärt has received honorary doctorates compared to 2007. from the Estonian Academy of Music, Tartu The export of energy products decreased in University, Durham University, University of 2008. Exports of electricity decreased 16% mainly Freiburg, University of San Martin, and the as a result of an almost twofold drop in exports to University of Sydney. Latvia. Imports of energy products decreased by about a tenth as 20% less motor fuels and 4% less natural gas was imported compared to the previous year. Imports of electricity increased about fourfold, mainly on account of partial replacement of own production with imported electricity. Imports of electricity from Latvia were over two times bigger ESTONIAN REVIEW and from Lithuania about four times bigger (ISSN 1023-1951) Is issued by the compared to 2007. Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs ISLANDI VÄLJAK 1, TALLINN, ESTONIA 15049 Silmet Makes Profit of EUR 1.4 Million TEL +372 637 7600 Last Year FAX +372 637 7617 Estonian Review is also available over the 9 September (BNS) - The Estonian rare-earth internet at http://www.vm.ee metals producer AS Silmet made a profit of To subscribe, please contact: [email protected] 22.4 million kroons (EUR 1.4 mln) last year; in Estonian Review is compiled in co-operation with 2007 the company made a loss of 3.6 million the Baltic News Service http://www.bns.ee/ kroons. On the basis of Silmet's 2008 financial year report the company's operating profit was 33.3 million kroons last year; the year before the operating loss was 2.8 million kroons. The profit made it possible to cover last year's loss and increase equity to 173.5 million kroons, the report said. Silmet's sales proceeds last year totalled 488.5 million kroons, nearly 20% more than in 2007. The company achieved its growth in sales thanks to physical growth in the sales volume as well as to the higher prices of ready-made products. Sales in European countries accounted for 236.9 million kroons of the sale proceeds, followed by the United States with 122 million and Japan with 82.4 million kroons. The company points out in its report that it managed to double the sales of rare-earth metals, thus becoming a real alternative to Chinese products. In connection with the contraction of sales in Q4 last year and unclear outlooks of the market conditions of rare-earth metals the company

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